Sometimes I wish I could be on an island where I am completely free from time, social life or cravings–anything in general that I often lose control of. But this is unfortunately only a wish, and I often start to wonder where my time goes. New innovations are made every day, yet I can barely keep up with the news from yesterday. Every tik tok on the clock, TikTok videos somehow find their way to me and drain my energy even when I’m sitting on my sofa. What I want is unclear, because I cannot even distinguish my own feelings. When I watch a YouTube video about a 12-year-old graduating from college or see someone my age posting Instagram photos of their world travels, I experience a confusing array of emotions. I feel jealous, inspired, hopeful, and anxious all at the same time.
Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), I’ve experienced these pitfalls countless times, so I know what needs to happen when I find myself here again. I just try to remove myself as much as possible from social media–whether that be Instagram, Messenger, or YouTube. After this, I think of the things that I might have been avoiding, like assignments, upcoming tests, and uncomfortable situations. I write them out on paper or a digital notepad and plan out how I will deal with them. This could involve asking my friend for an explanation about organic chemistry or filling out my taxes with some professional help. By doing this, I find myself no longer running to social media and beating myself up with comparison.
Before you try out my suggestions (listed below) on how to detach yourself from social media, it might be worth checking why, when, and where you spend the most time on. If you are also running away and procrastinating from your responsibilities or dreams, think about why you tend to do so. As you identify those factors, think and write out what you can do during that time instead of getting consumed by social media. If you spend time on Facebook between classes, perhaps use the extra time to go to a group fitness class in the gym or to draw, write, or read–just anything. If you don’t know what to do, make it a time to learn more about yourself! Start by writing out the things you liked as a kid or recently triggered your interest. If there’s just absolutely nothing you can think of, use the time to space out or to rest your mind and eyes. Or maybe just go to bed if you are one of the millions of college students who binge-watch reels before falling asleep.
Turn off notifications, recommendations, and autoplay.
In a digital world where algorithms make all the decisions for us, take the initiative to actively choose what to feed your mind, ears, and eyes. Be very clear about what you are using social media for. Leave Instagram once you’ve finished stalking your friend who is studying abroad. Decide what videos, or how many videos you will watch on YouTube, and stick to that limit.
Remove the social media platforms from your sight.
They say, “Out of sight, out of mind.” And this often holds true, especially when it comes to social media platforms! Many digital devices give you the option to make your application invisible, but if that is not an option for you, simply move the location of your application. I chose to install Instagram only on the device I occasionally use, and it has helped me to reduce the amount of time I spend on the app.
Make your phone limit the time you use toward social media.
Most iPhones and Android phones provide statistics detailing how much time you spend on each application, and they allow you to allocate time limits for specific applications. But if you find them unsatisfactory or insufficient, there are multiple applications for you to try. Stay Focused, Freedom, and Serene are some examples to check out.
Delete Your Social Media
If social media is not the only way to connect with your friends or family members, try deleting the apps! Your account won’t be deleted; it is just that the app will be gone from your devices. Don’t worry about missing out—you will gain much more in your real life. The time you invest on social media provides you only a few moments of excitement. Invest in yourself, as that truly lasts a lifetime.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.